“Next goal wins”: Hollywood’s take on American Samoa’s football redemption

Thomas Rongen, a former Major League Soccer coach, faced a significant challenge when he took over the American Samoan national football team, known as the worst globally. The team's journey to their first international victory, a 2-1 win against Tonga in 2011, is chronicled in the 2014 documentary "Next Goal Wins," now adapted into a Hollywood movie.

By
Zor
-
“next Goal Wins: Hollywood's Take On American Samoa's Football Redemption
Getty Credit @Stephane Cardinale - Corbis / Contributor & @Alex Livesey - FIFA / Contributor

Thomas Rongen, a former Major League Soccer coach, faced an extraordinary challenge when he took on the coaching role for the American Samoan national football team, known as the worst team globally. The team had suffered a devastating 31-0 defeat to Australia in 2001 and hadn’t won any official matches in their 20-year history.

Rongen had three weeks to prepare the team for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, chronicled in the 2014 documentary “Next Goal Wins,” now adapted into a Hollywood movie. Starring Michael Fassbender as Rongen, the film follows the underdog team’s journey to their first international victory, a 2-1 win against Tonga in 2011. The narrative also highlights the groundbreaking story of Jaiyah Saelua, the first transgender footballer to play at an international level.

Despite the initial portrayal of Rongen as a hard-drinking divorcee, the movie captures the team’s resilience, personal redemption, and the unique cultural aspects of American Samoa. The film, directed by Taika Waititi, is set for release on Boxing Day.